The Digital Transition Content Security Act would embed anticopying technology into the next generation of digital video products. If it makes its way from Capitol Hill to the Oval Office and becomes law, the measure will outlaw the manufacture or sale of electronic devices that convert analog video signals into digital video signals, effective one year from its enactment. PC-based tuners and digital video recorders are listed among the devices.

As usual, the MPAA thought process is completely flawed. First of all, there are so many old devices capable of converting analog to digital that any self-respecting pirate will have a supply for the next century. Secondly, since when is it fair to place a multi-billion dollar burden on one industry (consumer electronics) to protect the profits of another industry (content)? And the MPAA hasn't even tried doing things another way. There's been no simultaneous movie/dvd/net release where you download a full-featured full-sized film via a custom BitTorrent client for $8. Where's the Napster-style service for movies? $20/mo and you access every movie ever made that's over a year old, and view just-released features for $2 more?

Content is crazy. The world is split into two people:

Those who have money and want convenience.

Those who have time but want value

Movies are currently not particularly cheap or convenient. Movie theaters are expensive, their food is worse, the seats suck, the picture is grainy and splotchy, they're inconvenient (showtimes always start too soon, too late), and that's to say nothing of the patrons you might run into. Now, some places manage to be cool like Alamo Drafthouse, but those are few and far between.

Meanwhile, movies cost $6-9 for 2-3 hours of entertainment, and they're over. Alternately, there's the DVD, paying $20, give or take, for something you've already seen. Or, alternately, if you're full of time and have $20, you can spend another month on World of Warcraft... they obviously understand their market, unlike the MPAA, which is why they're making millions (soon to be billions)? $4/hr, or $0.20/hr? Hit-or-Miss maybe of a movie, or psychological addiction?